20 March, 2013

I've never gone for five years without posting something on my blog. At least not since 1994, when I was only thirteen years old. And yet, somehow, I'd gone for five years without seeing my sister, Anh.

Life is complicated, I guess. Everyday stuff gets in the way of connecting with family, unless you make the conscious choice to make them a part of your life. So, without ever really meaning to, I just went for five years without seeing my sister, who, coincidentally, was born in 1994, also when I was thirteen.

So there I was, standing downstairs waiting patiently while I was told a surprise lay in wait. Before I knew it, a woman strode into the room with a huge smile on her face. Is that...? Could it be...? I was caught completely by surprise. The shock was utter and extreme. She was eighteen; I last saw her when she was (coincidentally) thirteen. The difference was amazing.

My sister Anh is now an adult. This means many things, but most of all it means that I had to get to know her all over again. Even though she is the same person I knew from before, she is no longer a child, and that makes far more difference than I remember thinking it made back when I was thirteen.

The surprise visit lasted nearly a week, and it was amazing. We traveled through DC, VA, and MD, doing stuff like sightseeing and board games. It was a great deal of fun.

I love my sister. I loved her as she was when she was young, and I love her still today. Though she is now in Alabama again, far from where I live, I'd like to ensure that I no longer go through another such five year hiatus. It might take extra effort to continue such a long distance relationship with my sister, but I suppose that's what the internet is for. In the meantime, I'm off to facebook to see what Anh's up to.

Goodreads

This story is hard science fiction at its best. I thoroughly enjoyed this book not only for its exploration of plausible yet utterly fantastic ideas, but also for the story and characterization as well. Like all hard scifi, the main focu...

This book is hard science fiction at its best. I found myself riveted by each new section, unable to put the book down for more than thirty seconds at a time. The combination of a compelling story with such scientifically plausible eleme...

Although some sections suffer from the prejudices of the day, overall this book really touched my heart. I found myself really enjoying all the characters in their own way, and I loved the way that Anne changed over the course of her yea...

Although the book suffers from the blatant sexism of its day, it was forward thinking for its time, and had some very positive messages about what ideals should be truly valued. The science in the book was hit or miss; some parts make it...